Living Hope's Podcast

Have you ever thought that a prosperous life could be a dangerous one? Maybe you’ve found yourself relying on your family, your finances or even your feelings for a source of power and guidance, when our one true source comes from the Lord. This week guest pastor Mike Servello shares on the wisdom of God and the foolishness of riches. Rather than taking matters into our own hands, God deals with it with absolute precision and accuracy– God’s way is higher and bigger than us, all we have to do is put our trust in Him. Tune in here as we pray for the continued strength and perspective to live in His wisdom and not be fools of prosperity.

Do you ever find yourself gripping tightly to your future plans, your job, and your finances? Maybe you’ve realized that your grip is so tight that there’s little room left for God. This Sunday, Pastor Jess speaks to the culture of generosity in his sermon, Eyes of the Sent as he prepares us for Gala Sunday. He invites us to shift our perspective to a generous perspective, with hands open wide, ready to listen, obey and receive what Christ has in store for us. God wants to bless and deliver a bountiful harvest to us, but we first have to sow the seeds of the first fruits– we have to loosen our grip and give all we have back to God. Tune in here as we loosen our grip and allow God to take hold of our finances.

How are your firsts? The first of your Sabbath, the first of your day, your week, and your tithe? Regardless, how we tithe is more important than what we tithe. We serve a God who wants to bless, restore, supply, and multiply, but we first need to give our firsts, to our first—God. This week, guest Pastor Jared Lyons kicked off our 2024 Gala season with a powerful sermon about first fruits—about tithing. He shared the importance of mindset, inviting us to shift our selfish me-first mindset to a Kingdom mindset. Tune in to hear the three mindsets covered and be sure to check out our YouTube link to watch a powerful visual object lesson. Click here!

Why do good things happen to others, but not to me? Sound like a question that’s crossed your mind before? This week in his sermon, Complete, guest Pastor Samuel de Sousa reveals the healing and satisfaction the Lord wants to deliver to His people. He reminds us that the focus of our lives should never be on the absence of something, but rather, our life will be complete with Jesus. Hear this—the Lord is with you. He is guiding, He is healing, and He is moving. Cling to His ways knowing that He will deliver you in His timing. Tune in this week for a powerful message and illustration from our dear pastor friend.

Tag! You’re it! This week we finish our series, Thou Art With Me, with Pastor Jerushah revealing line-by-line in Psalm 23, how the Lord pursues us. How the same sense of urgency you may have had as a child in the game of “tag” is the same sense of urgency the Lord has in His pursuit of you—in His chase of you! Maybe life has felt like it is deep in the valleys, but our God does not get weary. He chases us down with His goodness and mercy and is with us through it all. He is in constant pursuit. Press play now!

You may feel weighed down by comparison, stuck in regret, simply too far off, or your cup may feel empty, but hear this: the Lord sees you and He has prepared a way for you. This week Pastor Jess continues in our sermon series, Thou Art With Me, by examining line-by-line the shift of the Father’s perspective—from Shepherd to Host. Despite who we are, where we’ve been, or what we’ve done, the Father chases us down and invites us to His table. Even though we can’t earn it nor do we deserve it, He welcomes us, He fills our cups, and He restores our souls—He recklessly loves. This sermon includes a powerful visual object lesson so be sure to check out our YouTube link.

Ever feel like you’re deep in the valley as opposed to high on the peak? You say “yes” to God’s requests, commit to His ways, and even follow Him through the wilderness, yet the destination isn’t what you anticipated. Maybe rather than the ease and joy you expected, you find yourself in a season of bitterness, failure, rejection, or loneliness—should we even be feeling these emotions as believers? In this week’s sermon, “Through,” Pastor Jess reveals God’s promise line-by-line in Psalm 23—the promise that despite the season, God sees us through; He illuminates our path and strengthens us to get through the valley with Him on our side. Listen here for the call to action we should seek in these seasons!

Ever feel like you’re getting somewhere the long way? Maybe there have been a few extra turns, more time in the roundabouts than expected, or even some surprising backtracking? This week, Pastor Jess continues in our sermon series, Thou Art With Me, as he reminds us that despite the turnarounds and dead-ends, God is leading and preparing us to exactly where we need to be. It turns out His ways may not be a direct route, but He gets us directly to His promises and provision. Feeling stuck in the journey? He restores your soul. Listen here as Pastor Jess continues to uncover the Kingdom perspective line-by-line in this familiar passage.

You may have heard and read the familiar Psalm 23, but have you known Psalm 23? Have you known who the Shepherd truly is? This week Pastor Jess dives into our new series, Thou Art With Me, by refocusing our stimulated lives back to a Kingdom perspective– a Shepherd’s perspective. Just as David wrote this Psalm from a place of loss, we are reminded that even in the absence, God is always moving. We’re not alone– despite our sin, despite our past, God is with us. Before we can understand this Psalm, we first have to understand The Shepherd– Tune in here!

Ever find yourself disappointed? Is that even an emotion we’re supposed to feel as Jesus-followers? If you find yourself searching for contentment amidst a busy, limits-filled life, you’re not alone. This week Pastor Jerushah concludes the series, Minor Chord, by delving into life’s disappointments; we all experience them, but how do we combat it? As she explains how the children of Israel wrestled with their own contentment, Pastor Jerushah draws us into the prophetic words of Haggai as we consider our own burn out and grief. Listen here for the three declarations we can make and our call to action. 

We are surrounded by shortcuts—find the fastest route, drink the powder for the six-pack, lather on the miracle cream, take the online class for instant wealth. What if God’s way, paths of righteousness, are not direct routes? In his sermon, I Send You Elijah, Pastor Jess explains how God’s route is not one where we try to steal and end up robbing God of what belongs to Him but is a route straight to fidelity. Whether you are enjoying or enduring the journey, this is a sermon you’ll want to hear. Stay on the route, stick to God’s road, and don’t shortcut the process or the passage. Listen here today!

How is your sword? Is it sharp, dull, laid down, ready? Our longtime friend Pastor Eric Jaquith from Puebla, Mexico, joins us with a word of encouragement to have the word of God prepared in our hearts through memorizing scripture. He challenges us to recognize the power of the Word of God and to be those who live with a first response of scripture when any news comes. Wondering where to start? Pr Eric makes it easy by sharing key verses for common life situations. He also shares about the incredible things God is doing in their churches in Mexico. You’ll be inspired and so encouraged as you listen today!

How’s your anxiety level today? Do you find yourself in a spiral of “what if” thoughts? If you’re honest, how often do you grab your phone for a moment of escape and distraction? Trust us; you’re not alone. As Pr Jess explains in his sermon, When Facing “That Day," this challenge of fear and distraction goes back thousands of years. And the good news stays the same—no matter what, there is a safe place. 

When was the last time your breath was taken away in awe? Perhaps it was a view, a generous gift, or the birth of a child? What if God is looking to restore awe that’s not just a monumental event but is a part of each day? What if our eyes are lifted and our souls are turned to see awe all around us? As we continue in our sermon series, Minor Chord, Pastor Jess explains how God is renewing awe in our souls as He turns our lives from anxiety to trust. Feeling like your mind can’t slow down, like you can’t walk away from your phone, or like today's worries surround every thought? Listen here as God reminds you of how He strengthens you to walk on high places in His provision and purpose!

Turn on the news, read the latest report, study the projections, hear the stats…it’s not encouraging. You might even find yourself asking God where He is in the mess of what you see around you. Hear the words of Nahum and be reminded, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in Him” (1:7). In this sermon, Pastor Jess reminds us of God’s promise that He will not leave evil unchecked nor allow it to prevail. He explains what it looks like to be people of praise in times of trouble. What does that look like today? Listen to this sermon and find out here!

Have you raised your hand? As you do the work of each day, whether it’s your weekday job, taking care of your kids, managing your home, or developing dreams and ideas, is your hand raised as one to be used by God? Or, does the work feel like a drag and the to-do list a burden? As we continue in our sermon series on the minor prophets, Pastor Jess takes us through the book of Micah, encouraging us to walk with deep motivation that reaches into all we do. He reminds us that the power of God is meant to be at work so deeply within that it comes out of our fingertips and touches the world around us. Press play today! You’ll be encouraged to return to whatever work you put your hands to with fresh motivation!

Who’s your Assyrian? Who or what do you place above the presence of God? It might be a group, a place, a celebrity, a political party, or it could even be someone who has wronged you. It might feel like living with an Assyrian isn’t that big of a deal, but how does that impact our allegiance to King Jesus? In his sermon, When Facing Contempt, Pr Jess walks us through the familiar story of Jonah in an entirely new light, explaining how we can be those who walk with our allegiance divided, keeping us from the perspective of King Jesus. This sermon comes with some impactful visuals, and we encourage you to watch it for the full experience. If you’re longing for your allegiance to Jesus to deepen, this sermon will inspire you in the best way! Listen and watch here!

Are you in a season of waiting, hoping, wondering, and contending? Do you find yourself growing tired of holding out and holding on? This sermon is for you. On Mother’s Day Sunday, our one and only Pastor Brenda brings the word and speaks to the seasons of "meanwhile." Speaking from the story of Jacob in Genesis, she encourages us to not forget the promises of God and to be people of preparation and declaration. This sermon is not just for moms; it’s one we all need to hear! Listen in today and be encouraged in your "meanwhile"!

Sometimes we feed on the wrong thing, and we’re not talking about cookies and donuts. Sometimes our appetite for superiority, pride, and ambition control what we see. Teaching through the book of Obadiah, Pastor Jess challenges us to be those who seek to see the reflection of the glory of God in the faces of those around us. Instead of playing superior, cracking jokes, and taking advantage, he reminds us to be people of praise. Are you ready to be reminded of the glory of God in the faces around you? It’s time for a new appetite. Listen today, and get ready to feed differently!

Justice—it's a word we hear in courtrooms, see held on street corners, and find at the top of social petitions. But where is justice in the Bible? As we continue in our Minor Chord sermon series, Pastor Jess takes us into the book of Amos, encouraging us to see how God’s definition of justice builds His house. It’s not a system of rules, laws, and policies but of intention, connection, and delight. Are you longing for a world that reflects Kingdom justice? Hear the invitation to step into God’s streams of justice today. Listen here; it just might change how you speak and see tomorrow.